PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Beyond Basketball
Be ready to cry when you read about this unique friendship…
The inspiring story of Michigan State basketball player Adreian Payne and superfan Lacey Holsworth
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Time to Write
Take a look at the photo and let your pen fly…
WRITING PROMPT:
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Lucky
Last night my parents came to my rec-league basketball game. I started off a little shaky. My left knee was hurting and I missed my first two shots. But when I finally warmed up (at 47 years old, it takes a while), I was able to get some boards and steals and went on to score 14.
After the game my mom and dad told me how much fun it was to see me play. Over twenty years ago they thought they had lost me forever when I was hit by a train and nearly killed, so they certainly never expected to continue to see me on the basketball court.
I gave them each a big hug. It was their support that helped me to survive and them being at my game reminded me of how lucky I am to be alive and how thankful I am that I can be on the court, doing what I love.
Take a moment today to think of some things that you’re thankful for?
Monday’s Pen to Paper: How Do You Write?
Writing is hard. Writing a book seems impossible. Even if you’ve done it once, it still seems like an insurmountable task to take all the bits and pieces of a story and bring them together as one. And what is interesting is that everyone goes about this process a little differently. What works for one person may not work for another.
I remember my writing instructor, Laura Kalpakian from my University of Washington Memoir class, telling us that each day she started from the beginning and journeyed toward the end of the story. This is how my daughter writes.
I don’t work this way. I write in bits and pieces. I write sections of the story that come to me, that seem vivid and alive in my mind, and then overtime bring them together and find an order to their chaos.
This method worked for me when I wrote Back on the Court, and it is how I’m writing my YA novel. I am not afraid to try new ideas, but I also like to remind myself that the creative process is different for everyone and that I must do what works for me.
Tell me about your writing process?
WRITING PROMPT: Stella wanted to throw her computer on the floor, but instead she…
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
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PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Leave It All On The Court
We had a tight game last night. We led by just two points when we went into the locker room at halftime. We made adjustments to our offense, changed our defense and reminded the girls to “leave it all on the court.” The girls came out of the locker room on fire.
We kept the momentum for quite some time and when that momentum began to shift, we called a timeout and made more adjustments. It didn’t work. Our opponents kept pushing, as I knew they would, and though our team struggled to find a rhythm in the fourth quarter, we never gave up. We battled to the end and came out on top.
I often remind the girls to leave it all on the court. No regrets. Meaning if they’ve given everything they have; played their hardest, supported their teammates, stayed […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Old School
I love the feel of a pen in my hand and the roll of ink across paper. Of course I usually write on my computer, but there’s just something about going “old school” and using a system that has served us since its invention during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) in China, oh so many years ago.
Grab a journal or some paper, find a cozy spot, and get to work.
WRITING PROMPT #1: Where is your favorite place to write. Do you have a favorite journal?
WRITING PROMPT #2: Ingrid couldn’t believe she was really in China, she had dreamed of this moment since…
PeaceLoveBasketball: Turn Up The Intensity With Fun
Often half way through the season it’s normal to see players that look a little down, maybe bored, and less intense. This drives me crazy, so each year I have to remind myself, and the players, that basketball is fun.
We are nearing the end of our regular season play and the girls have finals next week, so it’s been difficult to keep the intensity up in practice. At Tuesday’s practice, I wanted to put them on the line and run them for two hours, but I restrained, and then yesterday instead of running lines, I got music going in the gym and split the girls into two teams for basketball/conditioning relays, and then we finished with a short scrimmage and shooting. The girls got a nice workout, I felt satisfied that they got some good work in, and I saw lots of […]
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